Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Burkina Faso: Terrorism

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Burkina Faso about protecting civilians displaced by terrorist activity, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to protect the towns and villages in Burkina Faso that are now outside of state control because of terrorist activity.

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Burkina Faso about the reported continuation of terrorist violence in the Centre-Nord region and surrounding areas, including (1) holding perpetrators to account, and (2) providing humanitarian aid for victims.

baroness sugg: The UK is deeply concerned by the ongoing reports of terrorist violence in Burkina Faso and the tragic consequences for the population. The number of displaced people due to instability continues to rise. As of March 2020, just under 800 000 people were recorded as displaced in Burkina Faso. The UK condemns the violence and is committed to working with all partners, including the G5 Sahel countries, to support those most in need and tackle the long-term drivers of instability in the region. In March, the Minister for Africa attended the first meeting of the Sahel Alliance General Assembly and G5 Leaders' Summit, where he reaffirmed the UK's commitment to improved security and increased development in the Sahel. We are also deeply concerned by reports of abuses and violations of human rights in Burkina Faso, including by armed groups and the Burkinabe security forces. We welcome the Government of Burkina Faso's commitment to investigate recent abuses and hold those responsible to account, including following the attack on Malian refugees on 2 May and the deaths of 12 detainees in mid-May.The UK is supporting Burkina Faso by providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to those affected by the crisis. Over £23 million of UK humanitarian aid will go to Burkina Faso between 2019 and 2021, including to help tackle food insecurity and treat acute malnutrition.We are also funding a number of programmes that help provide access to education in emergencies and support women's sexual and reproductive health. The UK is supporting the security response through non-combat assistance to the French-led counter-terrorism mission Operation BARKHANE, in the form of three CH47 chinook helicopters. The UK is also committed to helping the G5 Sahel Joint Force reach full operational capability - bilateral funding has gone towards the provision of non-lethal military equipment and support for the human rights compliance framework. In response to COVID-19, the UK has committed up to £744 million of UK aid to combat the virus and to reinforce the global effort to find a vaccine. In the Sahel, the UK is seeking to make sure existing programmes adapt to new needs and is working with partners like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank to ensure that countries in the region, including Burkina Faso, get the support they need to respond to COVID-19 and manage its impact.

Department for International Development

Gaza: Coronavirus

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of COVID-19 cases in Gaza.

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the availability of personal protection equipment and ventilators in the West Bank and Gaza.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UN assesses that although the current number of detected cases remains relatively low in Gaza and the West Bank, the capacity of the Palestinian health system to cope with an increase in COVID-19 cases is poor, including the low availability of PPE and ventilators. The situation is particularly severe in Gaza, where the health system has shortages in specialised staff, drugs and equipment. As of 14 May, 20 cases have been detected in Gaza (of which 6 remain active). So far, cases have been contained and any community outbreak has been prevented.The UK has pledged £744 million to support the global humanitarian response to COVID-19. We have delivered additional vital support in the Occupied Palestinian Territories by providing funding to the World Health Organization and UNICEF to purchase and co-ordinate the delivery of medical equipment, treat critical care patients, train frontline public health personnel and scale up laboratory testing capacity.We continue to monitor the situation and are working closely with the UN and the international community to ensure a co-ordinated response.

Southern Africa: Overseas Aid

lord grocott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the Department for International Development'sbudget relates to Africa south of the Sahara.

baroness sugg: The UK spends more than £5 billion in ODA in Africa each year, through both country specific bilateral programming and through UK funding to multilateral organisations.Details of DFID spend are contained in Statistics on International Development. The most recent publication contains provisional aid spend for 2019 and shows DFID region or country specific bilateral official development assistance (ODA) spend in Africa in 2019 was £2.448 billion.In addition to region/country specific bilateral ODA, £2.607 billion was spent on projects where it has not been possible to assign to any single recipient country or region. A proportion of this will have been spent in Africa.DFID’s total ODA spend in 2019 was £11.107 billion.Spend in Africa above does not include imputed shares of UK funding to the general core budgets of multilateral organisations. The latest spend numbers available are for 2018, and show the imputed UK share of Multilateral Net ODA spent in sub-Saharan Africa was £2.2 billion.

Department for Education

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

baroness boycott: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to measure the success of the national voucher scheme; and whether they have access to supermarket data on (1) the amount of vouchers spent, and (2) what foods such vouchers were spent on, in order to assess whether the scheme was successful in supporting healthy eating.

baroness boycott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued to support families to feed children nutritious food that meets school food standards whist schools are closed.

baroness boycott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the national voucher scheme to cover the half-term holiday in May and the six-week summer holiday.

baroness berridge: As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19.Our latest guidance for schools is set out below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.During this period, we are asking schools to support pupils eligible for benefits-related free school meals by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the Department for Education.Voucher codes are being processed and many thousands of families are redeeming them. Edenred has reported that over £101.5 million worth of voucher codes have been redeemed into supermarket eGift cards by schools and families through the scheme as of Friday 22 May. Edenred has reported that 17,000 schools had placed orders for the scheme as of Tuesday 12 May.Families are free to select the most appropriate food and drink for their child. When selecting products, we encourage families to consider health and nutrition. The School Food Standards may act as a useful guide for families and is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standards-for-school-food-in-england.The vouchers should not be redeemed for any age-restricted items, such as alcohol, cigarettes or lottery tickets.There are a number of online resources available to support families in preparing healthy and nutritious food, including on the NHS Eat Well website: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/?tabname=recipes-and-tips.Provision for free school meals is ordinarily term time only. However, during the Easter holidays the department met the costs of offering free school meals to eligible pupils not attending school during term time weeks. This was in recognition of the unprecedented levels of disruption and uncertainty for schools during this time.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what assurances they have sought from Edenred that the food voucher scheme will work for all those who require them; (2) what plans they have to provide emergency aid to those who are unable to benefit from the scheme; and (3) what plans they have to seek financial compensation fromEdenred.

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they can take to encourage all food shops to accept food vouchers.

baroness berridge: As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals, by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children, and we encourage this approach where it is possible. However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the Department for Education.Through the national voucher scheme, schools and families could initially access e-gift cards for Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer. On Monday 27 April, we added Aldi to this list and on Wednesday 29 April, we added McColl’s. We recognise that it may not be convenient or possible for some families to visit one of these supermarkets and we have been working with a range of retailers to see if they can be added to this list. This would involve them having the right infrastructure to deliver e-gift cards across all their stores.If schools wish to provide vouchers through a supermarket that is not part of our national scheme, they can make their own voucher arrangements locally. Our guidance for schools sets out that they can be reimbursed for costs incurred where the national voucher scheme is not suitable for their families, and this can include alternative voucher arrangements with supermarkets that are not part of the national voucher scheme.In terms of the financial arrangements with our supplier, Edenred, we can confirm that we are only paying for the face value of goods delivered – in this case, vouchers.Voucher codes are being processed through the national scheme and many thousands of families are redeeming them. As of Friday 22 May, Edenred reported that more than £101.5 million worth of voucher codes have been redeemed into supermarket e-gift cards by schools and families. As of Tuesday 12 May, Edenred reported that 17,000 schools had placed an order. We have been working closely with Edenred to improve the scheme, and we thank schools using the system for their patience while it has been upgraded to meet increased demand.

Children: Coronavirus

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect the best interests of children who have a parent in custody, during, and after, the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: Ensuring that vulnerable children remain safe and protected is our top priority. For children who have a parent in custody, their circumstances vary considerably and therefore local agencies are best placed to determine what support is needed. This may include early help, statutory social care services, or support for other needs, such as mental health. A child’s need for support should be assessed individually. We do not believe a prescriptive approach – such as regarding all children of prisoners as children in need – is the right one. However, it is vital that all services consider the safeguarding and welfare issues that may be faced by children of prisoners.The statutory guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018), is unequivocally clear that anyone who has concerns about a child’s welfare should make a referral to local authority children’s social care. The local authority and its social workers then have specific roles and responsibilities to lead statutory assessments or enquiries to determine whether the child is in need (section 17, Children Act 1989), or suffering or likely to suffer significant harm (section 47, Children Act 1989).We know that attending education settings is an important protective factor for vulnerable children. That is why we have ensured vulnerable groups, including children with a social worker and children assessed as otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local authorities, can continue to attend educational settings. We are also providing laptops and tablets for children with a social worker and care leavers, and those in year 10 preparing for exams who do not already have such devices, to help children’s social care services keep in touch and keep children safe, and to support remote education.For schools and colleges, the statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education, sets out that staff should consider the additional needs of children with parents in prison. The guidance highlights the risk of poor outcomes including poverty, stigma, isolation and poor mental health. It signposts staff to the National Information Centre on Children of Offenders website which provides specialist advice and resources to support professionals working with offenders and their children, to help mitigate negative consequences for those children.We recognise the importance of supporting and maintaining links between offenders and their families, when this is in the best interests of the child. This is why HM Prison and Probation Service have been active in responding to this need and providing support for the families and children of those men, women and young people in their care. This includes the issuing of 900 mobile phones to establishments, piloting a video calling service, video messaging, using social media to update families, issuing letters from senior prison staff to prisoners’ families with information and updates on conditions, weekly bulletins and updates from establishments, reassurance updates from healthcare and psychology teams, and running art competitions for children of prisoners.

Children: Disadvantaged

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their definition of disadvantaged in relation to school children.

baroness berridge: The department defines disadvantaged pupils as those who are recorded as claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years, those pupils in the care of an English local authority, and those pupils who have left care in England or Wales through adoption, a special guardianship order or child arrangements order.The department recognises that other pupils face challenges in realising their potential at school. It encourages school leaders to exercise their autonomy when deciding how to provide extra support, particularly through the pupil premium, so that the needs of other pupil groups, such as those in touch with a social worker and young carers, may be addressed.

Regional Schools Commissioners: Coronavirus

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to redefine the role of regional schools commissioners during the period of school closures in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: The majority of schools have remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic for vulnerable pupils and children of key workers, and as Senior Civil Servants at the Department for Education, Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) have continued to exercise their responsibilities and take decisions on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education.In addition during this period, RSCs have led virtual Regional Education and Children’s (REACT) teams within the Department for Education and from Ofsted to bring together a wide range of departmental policy and operational interests, in order to provide a coherent interface with local authorities acting in their capacity as local coordinators of the emergency response.

Ministry of Justice

Barristers: Public Appointments

baroness goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the QC appointments competition to assess whether from 2021 it should no longer be externalised.

baroness goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review whether fees should be paid for QC applications; and if so, how much they should be.

baroness goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review whether fees should be paid for QC appointments; and if so, how much they should be.

lord keen of elie: The Government has no current plans to review the QC appointments competition and make this a Government function. The fees for both QC applications and QC appointments are set by Queens’ Counsel Appointments Ltd, and are therefore a matter for QCA.

Department for International Trade

Commonwealth: Exports

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many open general export licences have been granted in the last five years to Commonwealth countries; and to which countries.

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many open general export licences have been granted in the last five years to African countries not in the Commonwealth; and to which countries.

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many open general export licences have been granted in the last five years to South American countries; and to which countries.

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many open general export licences have been granted in the last five years to the United States.

lord grimstone of boscobel: Open General Export Licences (OGELs) are not granted for specific exports to specific destinations, rather they are pre-published licences that permit the export of specified items to a range of specified countries, following an online registration. They remove the need for exporters to apply for individual licences, providing the exporters can meet the terms and conditions set out in the licence.There are also EU General Export Authorisations (EUGEAs) under the dual-use regulations. These permit the export of certain specified dual-use items to specified destinations, subject to the terms and conditions of the licences. They are equivalent to OGELs and are available for use by any exporter within the EU, as well as the United Kingdom for now.At the end of the transition period, the EUGEAs will be retained as part of the retained Dual-Use Regulation. They will be renamed as “Retained General Export Authorisations” and will be available for use by exporters based in the United Kingdom, to export from the United Kingdom.In total, there are 65 OGELs and six EUGEAs currently available. To provide actual registrations over the last five years can only be provided at disproportionate cost, as my Department would have to review each live and archived OGEL/EUGEA, which will include reviewing country additions/removal dates and analysing specific registrations over each period.

World Economy: Coronavirus

lord stevenson of balmacara: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the aim expressed in OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy (CP 239) to deliver a “cleaner, more sustainable” world economy after the COVID-19 pandemic, what steps they are taking to achieve this aim through trade policy.

lord grimstone of boscobel: HM Government intends to support Britain’s economy to become stronger, cleaner, and more resilient after this crisis. A clean and resilient economic recovery will boost exports and create employment in the low-carbon industries of the future, while ensuring we address the linked challenges of public health, climate change, and biodiversity. Our ambitious trade policy agenda can support these aims, by promoting trade in low-carbon goods and services through Free Trade Agreements and at the WTO. HM Government will also continue to lead work on the international economic recovery through our upcoming COP26 and G7 Presidencies.

Iran: Arms Trade

baroness eaton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure British dual-use exports to Iran will not be deployed for non-civilian purposes following the expiration of the UN conventional arms embargo in October.

lord grimstone of boscobel: Although the UN conventional arms embargo is due to expire in October 2020, the EU arms embargo will remain in place until October 2023 and is binding on the United Kingdom until the end of the transition period, at which point our sanctions on exports to Iran will come into force.Dual-use exports not prohibited under the Iran sanctions are subject to the normal export licensing process and currently assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.

Overseas Trade: Africa

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to mitigate disruption to UK–Africa supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord grimstone of boscobel: The Department for International Trade is actively monitoring trade restrictions and their impact on supply chains and is working with partner governments in Africa to reduce disruption to them. At the G20, the United Kingdom supported commitment to keeping supply chains open and ensuring that restrictions are proportionate, temporary, and transparent. We have worked with Egypt on the supply of PPE and other medical equipment, and with Tunisia and Morocco so that electronic certificates of origin for goods they import are accepted for the duration of the Covid-19 period, mitigating disruption to UK-Africa supply chains by streamlining the customs process.HMG is supporting African countries during the Covid-19 crisis through development assistance. This includes a vulnerable supply chains facility and programmes working in partnership with countries to respond to disruptions in global trade and supply chains in several countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique and Lesotho.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Religious Buildings: Coronavirus

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with religious authorities about opening places of worship for (1) personal private devotions, (2) formal services, and (3) funerals and weddings, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord greenhalgh: The Government has been working closely with all major faith groups on a wide variety of issues relating to its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this engagement will continue.The Faith Minister has held meetings with Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu faith leaders and representatives since the outbreak. Officials also maintain regular contact with Faith leaders across all major faiths, ensuring the Government is responding to issues relating to COVID-19 as they arise.  This engagement will continue at both ministerial and official level as the Government looks to lift restrictions, as outlined in the recovery strategy – “Our Plan to Rebuild”, which was launched on 11 May can be found (attached) here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/884760/Our_plan_to_rebuild_The_UK_Government_s_COVID-19_recovery_strategy.pdf. As the document makes clear in Step 3, the Government’s ambition is to open places of worship; the current assumption is that this Step will be no earlier than 4 July.As part of the recovery strategy, the Government has launched a Taskforce to look at the possible re-opening of places of worship. The Taskforce will be led by the Secretary of State for Communities, or the Faith Minister, and comprise of representatives from the country’s major faiths. The aim of the Taskforce is to work towards the safe reopening of places of worship, including for private devotions, services and ceremonies like funerals and weddings. It will address the specific issues that places of worship face in the course of reopening safely.Places of worship are essential in bringing our communities together, which is why we want to reopen them as soon as we can. However, we will not compromise the safety of those who visit and work at our places of worship. The Government’s priority is to protect the public and save lives. We are committed to ensuring our faith communities have access to the latest public health advice, and to support them to adapt their practices in line with the Government’s COVID-19 guidance.



Our Plan to Rebuild
(PDF Document, 1.72 MB)

Travellers: Coronavirus

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to establishing a task force to deal with specific challenges experienced by Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord greenhalgh: We have been in close contact with Gypsy and Traveller Voluntary and Community Sector organisations and are doing everything we can to support them through the pandemic.We have provided £3.2 billion to local authorities to help them respond to the immediate impact of COVID-19. It is for local authorities to determine how best to support vulnerable groups, in line with their public health responsibilities. To enable compliance with COVID-19 public health guidance, access to basic amenities, including water, sanitation and waste disposal facilities is essential.On 11 April I wrote to all local authority chief executives to highlight that some Gypsies and Travellers may need specific support, including access to basic services such as water, sanitation and waste disposal (attached): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-mitigating-impacts-on-gypsy-and-traveller-communities.



Letter to Local Authority
(PDF Document, 146.2 KB)

Religious Freedom: Turkey

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the right of Turkish citizens resident in the UK to freedom of religious worship.

lord greenhalgh: Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, democracy, the rule of law, and equal rights define us as a society. The Government is determined to promote these values, working in partnership alongside all our faith communities.Freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right, and one which underpins many of the others. Where freedom of religion or belief is under attack, often other freedoms are under attack too.  It is important that everyone has the right to speak freely, and our strong legal framework provides the appropriate space to do so.Britain has a proud tradition of religious tolerance, within the law. The Government is committed to creating a society in which all people are free to express their religious identity and live without fear of harassment and crime because of it.The Government is committed to ensuring that people are protected against discrimination because of religion or belief, and that they are able to exercise the right to hold and manifest their beliefs in a reasonable manner.The Government will always protect people’s legitimate rights – for example, to free speech and to practise their religion within the law. The right to freedom of expression is a fundamental value of our democracy. It is protected by Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998, which incorporated into British law the rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Agriculture: Seasonal Workers

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 7 May (HL3400), what plans they have (1) to encourage more flexible and part time seasonal employment on farms, and (2) to encourage more British workers to apply for vacancies through the Pick for Britain scheme.

lord gardiner of kimble: There are already a number of recruitment efforts under way by industry and we encourage as many people as possible to take up seasonal work on farms. We took the decision to allow thousands of furloughed staff to take additional jobs and top up their income. We know people are signing up for extra work and we are working with industry to highlight these jobs and encourage recruitment. We are working with industry to encourage farmers, growers and Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) licensed businesses with vacancies to add their websites to the Pick for Britain (PfB) website through the ‘Are you an employer’ page. We are also working with industry recruiters to encourage them to post vacancies on the GOV.UK Find A Job digital platform so farmers can access a broader number of jobseekers. Jobs will continue to be added by these recruiters as more workers are needed and we will be working with industry to promote the PfB website throughout the summer. Further communications on PfB will be released based on the needs of the sector- this may include regional variations and targeting towards specific audiences such as students. We are in regular contact with the industry and current sentiment is that labour demands are being met for May. But we will monitor this across the picking season and work with growers and industry to join up potential sources of labour, including highlighting the benefits of a diverse and flexible workforce.

Agriculture: Seasonal Workers

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many current seasonal farm workers are (1) Eastern European, and (2) UK recruits through the Pick for Britain scheme.

lord gardiner of kimble: Defra does not hold details of the number of seasonal farm workers from eastern Europe versus those recruited through the Pick for Britain (PfB) scheme, but we understand that this year’s workforce is likely to be more diverse than in previous years as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.Industry tells us that demand for seasonal workers in May is currently being met, but we know that demand will rise from June onwards. A number of workers from within and outside of the UK have already been recruited and trained and will continue to work on our farms throughout the season.There are already brilliant recruitment efforts underway by industry and there has been a strong response with thousands of British people expressing their interest in agricultural work in the upcoming months.The PfB website acts as a central hub to signpost people to recruiters of seasonal agricultural workers and jobs will continue to be added to the website by these recruiters as more workers are needed. We will be working with industry to promote the PfB website throughout the summer.We will continue to work closely with industry to ensure our food supply chain remains resilient and to help our world-leading farmers and growers access the labour they will need over the busy harvest months.

Home Office

Home Office: Staff

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Home Office officials who have been charged with criminal offences in connection with their public duties are awaiting trial.

baroness williams of trafford: At present there is one former employee who is currently awaiting trial.

Police Custody: Solicitors

baroness doocey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place to ensure that individuals who are arrested and questioned by the police have access to solicitors during the COVID-19 pandemic, and can access them in a way that conforms to social-distancing measures.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office are in regular contact with the National Police Chiefs' Counsel (NPCC) and other key stakeholders regarding custody related matters. The NPCC have circulated guidance for all police forces in order for them to safely manage their custody suites with respect to their detainees, staff and visitors. The CPS has also published a temporary interview protocol which clearly sets out the situations where interviews should be prioritised and encourages solicitors to access interviews via video or telephone. Police have guidance on the use of PPE and should make PPE available to essential visitors to the custody suite.

Fixed Penalties: Coronavirus

lord trefgarne: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many fixed penalty notices have been issued under powers granted by orders made under the Coronavirus Act 2020.

baroness williams of trafford: Data on the number of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) issued under the new emergency COVID-19 health regulations, are published by the NPCC on a fortnightly basis and can be found on the National Police Chiefs' Council website. The NPCC release provides information about FPNs issued by police forces in England and Wales, the British Transport Police and the Ministry of Defence Police. Policing is a devolved matter and FPNs issued by Police Scotland and Police Service Northern Ireland are reported separately by the respective forces.

Deportation: Pakistan

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to deportAbdul Aziz, Adil Khan and Qari Abdul Rauf.

baroness williams of trafford: I am aware of the cases referred to, but I am unable to comment on individual cases.The crimes committed by child sexual exploitation gangs, such as those in Rochdale, who prey on the young and vulnerable are appalling. I have every sympathy with their victims.We are clear that foreign criminals should be deported from the UK wherever it is legal and practical to do so. Foreign national offenders should be in no doubt of our determination to remove them, and since 2010 we have removed more than 52,000.

NHS: Migrant Workers

baroness quin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to waive the cost requirement for the renewal of visas for those working in NHS hospitals in any capacity during the COVID-19pandemic. [T]

baroness williams of trafford: The Government has announced we will extend the visas for a range of healthcare professionals working for the NHS and independent health and care providers, where their current visa expires between 31 March and 1 October. This offer also applies to their families. The 12-month extension is automatic and free of charge and those benefitting will not have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.This is part of a wider Government approach to supporting the health and care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to keep all of our policies under review.

Cabinet Office

Exercise: Coronavirus

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government why theyselected Wednesday 13 May as the appropriate day on which unlimited outdoor exercise could resume.

lord true: Throughout the period since the Government imposed restrictions due to Coronavirus, people have been encouraged to exercise outdoors, alone or with members of their households. The Government's advice was to limit this to once a day during the early phases.The Government has developed specific guidance to mitigate transmission risks and communicated that guidance on 11 May, giving people time to understand and prepare for the changes to the regulations and guidance before the measures were implemented on 13 May. We will keep all of these measures under review, as required by the law.

Brexit: Coronavirus

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to extend the transition period as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord true: I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave to PQ HL3150 on 28 April 2020.

Treasury

Building Societies: Fraud

lord maginnis of drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all regulations relating to the actions that banks are legally required to take when there has been unauthorised or fraudulent activity on a customer’s account also apply to building societies.

lord agnew of oulton: Banks and building societies are both regarded as credit institutions under the EU Capital Requirements Regulation. As such, where there are obligations for unauthorised or fraudulent activity in relation to a credit institution, these apply equally to banks and building societies, unless stated otherwise. Every industry has a role to play in protecting themselves and their customers from fraud - from keeping their customers’ personal and card payment details safe, to ensuring they have adequate mechanisms in place to spot and stop fraudulent transactions. The scale of fraud requires a unified response with the private sector, particularly the banking industry, retailers, telecommunications industry and social media companies.

Public Expenditure

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to suspend any additional HM Treasury funding provided to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, either through the Barnett Formula or other means, if those countries incur additional costs resulting from any longer period of lockdown than is in place in England.

lord agnew of oulton: The government is focused on responding to Covid-19 across the UK, both through UK-wide measures and funding to the devolved administrations through the Barnett formula. We have so far announced almost £7 billion of additional funding to the devolved administrations to support people, business and public services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This means £3.5 billion for the Scottish Government, £2.1 billion for the Welsh Government and £1.2 billion for the Northern Ireland Executive. This is in addition to the UK-wide measures that the people and businesses in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will benefit from, including the Job Retention Scheme, Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and Business Interruption Loan Scheme. We are working closely with the devolved administrations and will continue to do so as we take steps out of lockdown.

Developing Countries: Coronavirus

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ability of global markets to fund the borrowing by developed countries as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic

lord agnew of oulton: HM Treasury continuously monitors the global economy. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, developed countries have responded with considerable fiscal support. The IMF has affirmed the vital role of such support, and notes that markets expect sovereign bond yields to remain low in advanced economies over the medium term.

Interest Rates

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likelihood of a rise in interest rates due to an increase in borrowing.

lord agnew of oulton: The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee is responsible for setting interest rates to meet the inflation target, and has operational independence from the Government to determine the appropriate level of interest rates. The Government is ultimately a price-taker, with the price of Government debt dictated by the market. UK debt benefits from “safe haven” status. The trust in the UK’s institutions makes gilts a popular form of sovereign debt compared to many other comparable issuers, keeping its borrowing costs low. UK borrowing costs tend therefore to chiefly be driven by global risk sentiment and currently stand close to historical lows. The gilt market is deep and liquid with a good track record in responding smoothly to increases in gilt supply.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, HMRC will tax the employee on their full salary and not the reduced one if an employer and employee have not entered into a written agreement reducing the employee’s salary before the first reduced payment is made.

lord agnew of oulton: The CJRS is available to support employees paid via PAYE across the UK. When an employee has been furloughed, HMRC will tax the furlough salary in accordance with PAYE. However, in order to be eligible for the grant employers must confirm in writing to their employee that they have been furloughed. If this is done in a way that is consistent with employment law, that consent is valid for the purposes of claiming the CJRS. Collective agreement reached between an employer and a trade union is also acceptable for the purpose of such a claim. There needs to be a written record, but the employee does not have to provide a written response. A record of this communication must be kept for five years. If the employee has not received written notice confirming they are furloughed, the employee is not considered to be furloughed.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government, as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme does not require an employee to sign up to a salary reduction in order for the employer to make a claim for the grant, whether HMRC expect employers and employees to have entered into written agreements either for those who have been furloughed on 80 per cent of their pay or those who are still working but have voluntarily taken a temporary reduction in pay; and, if not, what evidence HMRC will require.

lord agnew of oulton: In order to be eligible for the grant, employers must confirm in writing to their employee that they have been furloughed. If this is done in a way that is consistent with employment law, that consent is valid for the purposes of claiming the CJRS. Collective agreement reached between an employer and a trade union is also acceptable for the purpose of such a claim. There needs to be a written record, but the employee does not have to provide a written response. Those who have voluntarily taken a reduction in pay and are still working do not meet the eligibility requirements of the CJRS and therefore are not furloughed according to the terms of the scheme. As the scheme is administered through existing PAYE, the employee does not need to take further action. Detailed step by step guidance for employers is available on GOV.UK.

Taxpayers

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how manytaxpayers there were with a gross taxable income (1) over £5,000,000, (2) £1,000,000–£4,999,999, (3) £750,000–£999,999, (4) £500,000–£749,999, (5) £250,000–£499,999, (6) £150,000–£249,999, (7) £100,000–£149,999, (8) £75,000–£99,999, (9) £50,000–£74,999, (10) £30,000–£49,999,and (11) under £30,000, during the 2018–19 financial year.

lord agnew of oulton: The table below contains estimates of UK taxpayer numbers grouped into gross taxable income bands for the 2018-19 financial year:  Taxpayers by range of total taxable income, 2018-19Range of total income  (lower limit)Number of taxpayers  (thousands)£11,850 (a)19,500£30,0007,960£50,0002,430£75,000789£100,000569£150,000260£250,000125£500,00027£750,00012£1 million18£5 million1Total (b)31,700(a) Can include some taxpayers who are not entitled to any/a full Personal Allowance whose total income can be less than the Personal Allowance.(b) Total may not sum exactly due to rounding.  Taxpayer numbers are rounded to the nearest one thousand and shown to three significant figures where appropriate. The figures for 2018-19 are based on outturn data derived from the 2016-17 Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) and projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility’s March 2019 Economic and Fiscal Outlook. In addition to the requested information, the estimated number of income tax payers by total income for 2018-19 are published on page 34 of the HMRC UK Income Tax Liability Statistics bulletin.

Economic Situation: Coronavirus

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their (1) economic, and (2) financial, strategy for the post COVID-19 pandemic period.

lord agnew of oulton: The Treasury’s priority is to support the economy through the immediate crisis. We have taken unprecedented steps to keep as many people as possible in their existing jobs, support viable businesses to stay afloat and protect the incomes of the most vulnerable. These measures aim to protect the productive capacity of our economy and to enable a strong and sustainable recovery from this crisis. It is clear that the impact on the economy and the government's necessary response will lead to an increase in borrowing in the short-term. However, the Office for Budget Responsibility note that the measures taken should help limit the long-term damage to the economy and public finances – and the costs of inaction would have been higher. The government has set out a conditional roadmap for reopening certain economic activities, whilst continuing to suppress the Covid-19 outbreak. Our economic strategy will therefore be closely coordinated with the public health strategy to ensure a safe return of economic activity. What we are thinking about first and foremost is protecting people's health, protecting people's jobs and supporting businesses. As we exit the current crisis, we will take stock of the economy and public finances and make the right decisions at that point.

Taxation: Coronavirus

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have in respect of (1) personal taxation, and (2) business taxes, for the post COVID-19 pandemic period.

lord agnew of oulton: The Government’s priority is to support the economy through the immediate crisis. The Government has taken unprecedented steps to keep as many people as possible in their existing jobs, support viable businesses and protect the incomes of the most vulnerable. These measures aim to protect the productive capacity of the economy, and to enable a strong and sustainable recovery from this crisis. The Government will continue to keep all taxes under review.

Customs: Republic of Ireland

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to augment customs arrangements betweenGreat Britainand the Republic of Ireland after 1 January 2021.

lord agnew of oulton: The UK will be leaving the Customs Union at the end of this year. The Government will implement customs arrangements that facilitate trade and investment between the UK and EU, but that ensure customs authorities are able to protect their regulatory, security and financial interests.

Customs: Northern Ireland

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whethergoods moving between Northern Ireland and Great Britain will be subject to customs inspections once the UK has fully withdrawn from the EU.

lord agnew of oulton: Under the UK’s Withdrawal Agreement, Northern Ireland remains part of the UK’s customs territory. As set out in the New Decade, New Approach deal, the Government has committed to legislate to guarantee unfettered access for Northern Ireland’s businesses to the whole of the UK internal market and to ensure that this legislation is in force for 1 January 2021. The arrangements that the Government introduces will reflect this approach and the Government will set out more detail in due course.

Customs: Northern Ireland

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whethercustoms officers will have powers to prevent goods moving between Northern Ireland and Great Britain following the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

lord agnew of oulton: Under the UK’s Withdrawal Agreement, Northern Ireland remains part of the UK’s customs territory. The Withdrawal Agreement allows the UK to ensure unfettered market access for goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain. The arrangements that the Government introduces will reflect this approach and the Government will set out more detail in due course.

Stamp Duty Land Tax: Foreign Nationals

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase Stamp Duty Land Tax for foreign buyers.

lord agnew of oulton: At Spring Budget 2020, the Government announced that from April 2021, non-UK residents will be charged a Stamp Duty Land Tax surcharge of 2%.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Sports and Voluntary Organisations: Coronavirus

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to publish guidance, including in easy read format, for the charity, voluntary and amateur sports sectors in relation to the support available to them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness barran: Information on the current Covid-19 pandemic including the support available to the charity, voluntary and amateur sports sectors can be found on Gov.uk. Further detail on the support available to sports clubs, including the Sport England Community Emergency Fund, can be found on the Sport England website. Accessible formats of the guidance are available on request via the Gov.UK website including versions for use with assistive technology.

Sports: Coronavirus

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to publish guidance on the use of changing rooms during competitive sporting fixtures, in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness barran: The Government has published guidance on gov.uk allowing the phased return of sport and recreation in line with the latest medical guidance. This guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation. A pdf of the web page is attached.The current guidance for recreational settings states that indoor facilities, apart from toilets and through-ways should be kept closed.The guidance also includes a set of recommended minimum practice for Step One of ‘return to training’ (RTT) guidance for elite athletes. This guidance will assist elite sport organisations to deliver a safe return to organised training for its athletes and staff, while adhering to social distancing guidelines. Step Two guidance on a return to close contact training, and Step Three of parameters of Behind Closed Doors competition, will follow in due course.  



Sport COVID guidance
(PDF Document, 77.97 KB)

Sports: Coronavirus

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to publish guidance on a sport-by-sport basis in relation to the resumption of competitive sport following the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness barran: The Government has published guidance on gov.uk allowing the phased return of sport and recreation in line with the latest medical guidance. This guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation. A pdf of the web page is attached. The guidance includes a set of recommended minimum practice for Step One of ‘return to training’ (RTT) guidance for elite athletes. This guidance will assist elite sport organisations to deliver a safe return to organised training for its athletes and staff, while adhering to social distancing guidelines. Step Two guidance on a return to close contact training, and Step Three of parameters of Behind Closed Doors competition, will follow in due course.Whilst the Government does not plan to publish sport-specific guidance, the national governing bodies of sports are producing guidance for the safe, phased return of play, in line with the overarching guidance that the Government has produced.



Sport COVID guidance
(PDF Document, 77.97 KB)

Football: Coronavirus

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Football Association about (1) restarting the English Premier League behind closed doors and (2)the timing of matches in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness barran: Ministers held a productive meeting with the Football Association, alongside the Premier League and English Football League, on 14th May to discuss the latest on their plans for the safe resumption of professional football in June. The Premier League will only return when it is safe to do so - the health and welfare of players, coaches and staff comes first.

Cybercrime: Coronavirus

baroness andrews: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact ofrecent cyberattacks on (1) UK computing infrastructure, and (2) any delays to COVID-19 research that such attacks may have caused. [T]

baroness barran: The UK remains resilient against cyber attacks and the government has invested heavily in developing the UK's cyber security capabilities, as set out in the National Cyber Security Strategy. The Government judges the overall level of cyber crime has remained stable, however there has been an increase in malicious ‘phishing’ emails attempting to capitalise on concern around Covid-19. The National Cyber Security Centre is supporting the NHS, health researchers and others in the health supply chain to ensure all the nation's resources can be focused on the public health response without disruption.